Lock structure



Aug. 18, 1942. c. J. SCHELL 2,293,363-

LOCK STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 19, 1940 INVEYNIOR bar/es Patented Aug. 18,1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,293,363 Look STRUCTURE Charles J.Schell, Cincinnati, Ohio Application September 19, 1940, Serial No.357,449

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a lock structure which is elongated andparticularly designed for use upon carrying cases, hand bags, andsimilar equipment requiring a plurality of fastening points along theextent of its closure.

A principal object of the invention is to achieve a high degree ofsimplification in a lock structure of the character stated, and tothereby reduce the number of differing parts and also the expense ofmanufacturing the parts and assembling them.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact and relativelysmall lock structure of the character referred to, which may beappliedto small as well as large cases or bags, but which will withstand muchabuse without requiring frequent servicing or parts replacements.

Another object is to provide a lock structure of the kind referred to,which may be unlocked only by a positive act on the part of the user, sothat accidental or unexpected unlocking is impossible, although thelocking function may be effected instantaneously and without effort.

The present lock structure, moreover, is so designed as to avoidimpairment of its reliability and effectiveness, regardless of any wearresulting from long usage and repeated operation of the lock, since thewearing of the parts is confined to areas' and locations which are notof necessity delicate or sensitive.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means describedherein and disclosed in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of a carryingcase or similar article embodying theinvention, the case being illustrated in a partly open condition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the case.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental top view of the Fig. 2 case, shown on an enlargedscale with the case partly open, and the lock housing cover removed.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental plan view of the lock structure shown at theright end of Fig. 3, with the parts in locked engagement.

Fig. 5 is a fragmental cross-sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3,showing how the lock structure is embodied in a bag or case.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing a modification. i

Fig. '7 is a cross-section on line '|--"I of Fig. 6.

This application is a continuation in part of my issued PatentNo.2,242,550, dated May 20, 194.1, and embodies certain improvementsover the structure disclosed in the indicated patent. As the structuresare closely related, it will appear that the instant lock structure isapplicable to cases or bags in much the same manner as is explained insaid patent, and also, that the instant structure, if desired, may befurnished with akey lock for the bolt actuating mechanism. It is deemedunnecesssary to illustrate the key lock feature herein, as it forms nosubstantial part of the present invention and bears no differentcooperative relationship to the bolt mechanism than is explained anddisclosed in the issued patent.

There are several features embodied in the improved structure of thisinvention, which distinguish it from the earlier disclosure. Forexample, it will be shown that the lock structure herein disclosed isassembled using a reduced number of constituent parts, many of which areso designed as to be interchangeable, thereby eliminating the need forright and left side parts. In fact, all parts at the left; end of thelock structure are instantly interchangeable with identical parts at theright end thereof, so that not only is the assembly operationfacilitated, but the number of dies needed for manufacture of the parts,is reduced by half. In addition to the advantages just mentioned, therewill be evident in the improved structure of this invention, a completeabsence of delicate or sensitive parts requiring critical adjustments.The improved lock structure contains no pins or shoulders to round offor wear away, that might result in impairing the reliability or thedurability of the device. Accordingly, the improved lock structure ofthe present invention will give long and uninterrupted service withoutany attention or servicing whatever, and there will never be reason fordismounting the lock structure from the case or bag for the repair orreplacement of parts.

With reference to the accompanying drawing, the characters 2 and 3indicate the opposite side portions of a carrying case or bag which maybe hinged either in the conventional manner, or at points 4 and 5 to abottom 6. .The' side parts of the case or bag may be furnished with thecustomary handles I, if desired. The upper portion of side part 2 isindicated by the character 8, whereas the upper portion of side part 3is indicated at 9. Along the closing edges, the portions 8 and 9 may befurnished with metallic angle members It and I2, as illustrated in Fig.5.

The angle member ll] extends along the top portion 9 of the case or bag,and has fixed thereto a keeper 13 adapted to enter the bolt housingwhich is carried by the opposed angle member l2. It is immaterialwhether the keeper is welded, riveted or otherwise fixed to the anglemember l0, so long as it extends generally toward the look housing l4and is spaced from the leg l5 of the angle member ID. While it ispreferred that the lock housing be riveted or pinned to the angle member2, for convenience, the connection may be effected in any desiredmanner. The lock housing has an entry aperture located at l 6, foraccommodating the keeper I3 and permitting it to assume a latchedcondition with respect to the bolts constituting the lock structure. Thenumber of entry apertures, of course, corresponds with the number ofkeepers to be latched, which in the present instance, is two; Uponclosing the case or bag of Fig. 1, the keeper I3 is compelled to enterthe aperture of the lock housing l4, and to be automatically latchedtherein. Release of the keeper, or keepers, is efiected by the positiveact of rotating a disc or other finger piece ii that extends from thelock housing and is accessible at all times. Approximately a halfrotation of the finger piece is all that is required for release of thekeepers from the bolt work of the lock mechanism.

To consider the details of the lock structure, reference is made to Fig.3, wherein the complete lock is shown with its cover plate I8 omitted.The entire bolt work is enclosed within a housing that comprises a planebottom i9 bounded by upstanding, shallow side walls 2@-2l, and end walls2223. The lock housing may readily be fabricated from a single sheet ofmetal cut and formed to furnish sides and ends as integral parts of thestamping. The cover 68 may be a separate part fixed as a closurebounding the opposed sides and ends, and held in place with the use ofany appropriate fastening means. Normally the cover I8 will conceal allof the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3. By reason of the structureresorted to in building the lock, the thickness of the housing I4 may beconsiderably less than its width, which is an advantage cut away atlfi-ifi, where the keepers 13 are 1 adapted to enter the housing.

The character 24 indicates a foreshortened slide block which, with thehook member 25, constitutes an articulated or composite bolt. Both theslide block and the hook member preferably are formed of metal or othermaterial having a thickness approximating the depth of the shallow lockhousing. The slide block 24 has an elongated slot 23 therein, throughwhich extends an upstanding lug or stop 2'! punched from the material ofthe housing bottom l9, said lug or stop 2! providing an abutment for acompression spring 23 arranged to constantly urge the slide block towardthe middle point of the lock housing. Accordingly, the end of the springopposite to that which abuts the lug 21 may rest at 29 against an insert3! which may be utilized, if desired, as a confining element for thespring. The insert Sdshown herein as a U-shaped strip of metal, may bedispensed with if desired, however, its use is preferred in structureswherein the elongated slot 26 is of greater Width than the diameter ofthe spring.

The hook member 25 will be seen to comprise a hooked end with a returnextension 3| arranged in substantial parallelism with, and in the planeof, the shank of the hook member. The opposite or inner end of the hookmember preferably is off-set as at 32, to the extent of placing theinner terminus of the hook member in line with the major axis of theslide block 24. By preference, though not of necessity, the innerterminus of the hook member may be formed as a partial cylinder asindicated at 33, for reception in a bored seat 3 5 provided transverselyof the slide block near its outer end 35. The result is an articulatedor separable bolt structure wherein the hook member 25 is renderedinterchangeable with the identical hook member shown at the right handend of Fig. 3. The slide blocks also are interchangeable.

At the inner end of the slide block, there is furnished a projection orextension having an end face 37 to be engaged by the corner 38 of arotatable, double-action cam 39 which is fixed to the shaft 40 thatcarries the finger piece or operator ll. Where the shaft passes throughthe cam, it may be squared or flattened as indicated at 48, thereby topreclude relative rotation of the parts. The finger piece or operatorll, of course, is likewise fixedly secured to the shaft at its outerend.

By rotating the cam in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 3), the slideblock and its hook member 25 will be advanced outwardly as shown, todisplace the hook part 3?! from alignment with the entry aperture 16 ofthe lock housing. As the corner 38 of the oath passes the abutment face31 of the slide block, the block and the hook element will be urgedtoward the cam by spring 28, provided that the bolt arrestor or pawl 4|is displaced inwardly and out of alignment'w'ith the bolt portion'iil ofthe hook member. Thus, the bolt work is capable of a spring returnmovement automatically whenever the keeper I3 is advanced through theentry aperture IG' and against the pawl 4|, to displace the pawl aboutits pivot 43 against the resistance of a spring 44. It will be notedthat the pawl, like the hook member 25 and slide block 24, may be of athickness approximating the depth of the lock housing, so as to presenta substantial face 45 to the angularly turned end 46 of keeper 13 (Fig.5). When the keeper end contacts face 45 and displaces pawl 4|, thesubstantial, flattened, transverse nose 41 of the pawl is displaced so'that the extreme end of portion 3| of the hook member will encounter noobstruction in its movement across the'entry aperture l6, under thepropelling influence of spring 28. As the projection 3| so advancesacross the entry aperture 16. its lower face "or edge 48 will rideacross the inner fat-e49 of keeper extension 46, thereby to precludewithdrawal of the keeper from the entry aperture. In the resultantlatched condition of the keeper, the pawl will be displaced tosubstantially the position illustrated in Fig. 4, which shows thelatched condition of the keeper. 'It should be noted that the nose 4'!of the pawl has a flat lateral face 50 furnishing a substantial abutmentfor the extreme end of the hook extension 3 I, so that there is? absentfrom the structure any liability of wear capable of impairing thelatched and unlatched function of the bolt work.

The spring 44 may be of the coiled wire type and may be'mounted upon apin 5| fixed to the bottom wall IQ of the lock housing. The characters52 indicate similar pins which may be utilized as supports for the coverl8. The characters 53 indicate apertures in the bottom wall of the lockhousing through which rivets or other suitable fasteners may be insertedfor securing the lock housing to the leg 54 of angle member l2 (Fig. 5).

The rectangle indicated at 55 indicates an outwardly pressed portion ordepression formed in the bottom I9 of the'lock housing, coextensive withthe width of the entry aperture I6, and within which the body portion ofthe keeper I3 may slide as it enters and departs from the interior ofthe lock housing. By furnishing the depression 55 as stated, the keeperbody may rest flush with the bottom of the lock housing when advanced tothe Fig. 4 position.

Since it is clearly evident that the bolt work at the left of cam 39 isidentical to that at the right thereof, in Fig, 3, it will beunnecessary to duplicate the description of the bolt Work at,

the right-hand end of the lock structure. The similarity of'parts atboth ends of the structure is complete, so that the interchangeabilityof parts is readily in evidence.

It is important to note that the slide block 24 and its cooperative hookmember 25 are capable of longitudinal reciprocatory movement only, therebeing no need for any lateral shifting of the parts within the lockhousing. In other words, the slide block and the hook member may beneatly fitted between the side walls 20 and 2| of the housing, so that asmooth and noiseless action is attained. The only laterally moving partin the lock structure is the boltretaining pawl 4|, whose nose 4!normally abuts the inner face of said wall 2| and the extreme end ofhook extension 3|. In this connection, it should be observed that thepawl nose and the extension are not delicate parts requiring criticaladjustments, wherefore any wearing of these parts will in no way impairthe operation of the bolt-work. The bolt arrester or pawl 4| may haveits contact edge 45 slightly humped as at 51 (Fig. 4), so that thekeeper ledge or foot 46 when advanced against the pawl will displace thepawl nose 41 well out of the way of the bolt extension 3|, permittingthe latter to freely snap over the ledge or foot 46 as illustrated.width of keeper ledge or foot .45, may approximate the depth of thehousing side walls 2II-2I. The pawl-engaging end of spring 44 may beburied in the back of the pawl, as indicated.

When the parts are disposed to the locked position of Fig. 4, the camwill assume a position at which its rounded heels 58 rest within thecurved I recesses 59 of the slide blocks, and the flats of the cam willrest against the projections 36 of the slide blocks in readiness for aprojectile movement of the blocks upon rotation of the cam in theclockwise direction indicated. The cam is freely rotatable, so that theblocks when retracted by their springs 28, may be free to move the boltsto the locked position without interference by the cam, as the fingersor extensions 36 may readily rotate the cam with the aid of the springs28. Accordingly, the keepers may be projected into the lock housingapertures for tripping the pawls and looking with the bolts,irrespective of the position of the cam.

In the modified form of the device as illustrated by Figs. 6 and 7, willbe found features which may be considered highly desirable in manyinstances. Here the housing H4 is practically identical to housing I4,having the keeper entry port or aperture H6, and the bottom wall II9preferably with the depression I55 formed therein. The slide isindicated at I24, and has a connection I33 with the hook member I25 aspreviously explained, for facilitating assembly The thickness of thepawl, and the aperture IIB of the housing. When the keeper is thusadvanced into the aperture, its tapered or wedge-shaped nose mustcontact the slope I48 of the hook member, to displace the hook membertoward, but not to, the dotted line position of retraction (Fig. 6); andas soon as the keeper enters far enough, the slide spring (identical to28) will pull the hook extremity I3I over the top face or ledge of thekeeper nose or head I49 as shown. By this means, the operator is sparedthe necessity for manually retracting the boltwork through rotation ofthe double acting cam, for insertion of the keeper. It should beunderstood that in the Fig. 6 modification, the boltwork will bereproduced at opposite ends of the lock housing, just as explained andillustrated in connection with Fig. 3.

With further reference to Figs. 6 and '7, it will be observed that thepawl I4I has a transversely turned end I41 extending in the generaldirection of keeper movement, and so located as to be moved by a springI44 into endwise contact against the inner face of side wall I2I, whereit will obstruct travel of the hook end I3I in its movement from thedotted line retracted position, toward the full line locking position,while under the propelling influence of the bolt spring (28 of Fig. 3).When the pawl end I41 is in contact with housing wall IZI, the boltcannot spring to the locking position, whereas upon movement of thekeeper nose fully into the housing aperture, said keeper nose willstrike the horizontal portion of the pawl and move the latter about itspivot I43 until the pawl end I4! moves out of the path of movement ofthe bolt end I3I. Then the bolt spring acts to advance the bolt end tothe locking position of Fig. 6. The structure is to be unlocked forrelease of the keeper, in the precise manner explained in describingFig. 3, that is, by

rotating the bolt operating cam.

tured as indicated at 63 for attachment to onemovable section of a bagor carrier, opposite to the section that carries the lock housing.Apertures such as I53 may be furnished as a means of mounting the lockhousing, using rivets or other suitable fasteners. The parts will assumethe relationship shown in Fig. 6 when the bag or carrier is fullyclosed, it being understood that a substantial portion of the keepershank will be embedded in the bag section which carries it. Post I62provides the anchorage for a cover plate, as previously explained.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes in thestructural details of the mechanism may be made, within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housinghaving a bottom wall and side walls, one of which side walls isapertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slideblocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall andbetween the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slideblocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between saidblocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator beingadapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from oneanother in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a pair ofidentical hook members each including a shank, a turned end, and anoffset anchorage end, said hooks being reciprocable lengthwise of thehousing without lateral displacement and located beyond the outer endsof the slide blocks, means connecting the offset anchorage end of eachhook member to an outer end of a slide block, upon the major axis ofeach slide block, the turned ends of the hook members being directedtoward each other, adjacent to the entry apertures-for the keepers, andin position to move across said apertures under the propelling force ofthe yielding means acting upon the slide blocks, and displaceable meansnormally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers,located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abut endwise theturned end of a hook member, for maintaining a retracted condition ofthe hook member until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepersinto said apertures.

2. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housinghaving a bottom wall and side walls, one of which side walls isapertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slideblocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall andbetween the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slideblocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between saidblocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator beingadapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from oneanother in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a pair of hookmembers each including a shank, a

turned end, and an ofiset anchorage end, said hooks being reciprocablelengthwise of the housing without lateral displacement and locatedbeyond the outer ends of the slide blocks, means connecting the offsetanchorage end of each hook member to an outer end of a slide block, uponthe major axis of each slide block, the turned ends of the hook membersbeing directed toward each other, adjacent to the entry apertures forthe keepers, and in position to move across said apertures under thepropelling force of the yielding means acting upon the slide blocks, anddisplaceable means normally in obstructing but yielding relationship tothe keepers, located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abutend- Wise the turned end of a hook member, for maintaining a retractedcondition of the hook member until displaced and tripped by insertion ofthe keepers into said apertures, said blocks and hook members anddisplaceable means all being of a substantially common thicknessslightly less than the depth of a side wall of the housing measuredinteriorly thereof.

3. A hook structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housinghaving a bottom Wall and side walls, one of which side walls isapertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slideblocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall andbetween the side wallsof the housing, means yieldingly urging the slideblocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between saidblocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator beingadapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from oneanother in opposition to the force'of the yielding-means, a pair ofidentical hook members each including a shank, a turned end, and anoffset anchorage end, said hooks being reciprocable lengthwise of thehousing without lateral displacement and located beyond the outer endsof the slide blocks, means connecting the offset anchorage end of eachhook member to an outer end of a slide block, upon the major axis ofeach slide block, the turned ends of the hook members being directedtoward each other, adjacent to the entry apertures for the keepers, andin position to move across said apertures under the propelling force ofthe yielding means acting upon the slide blocks, and displaceable meansnormally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers,located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abut endwise theturned end of a hook mem-- ber, for maintaining a retracted condition ofthe hook member until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepersinto said apertures, each displaceable means when displaced beingreceived, along with a keeper, between the turned end and the shank of ahook member.

4. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of ashallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, arotatable cam located remote from the entry aperture, an elongated'slideblock having an elongated way extending longitudinally of the housing,said block having an inner end contacting the cam whereby rotation ofthe cam projects the block outwardly, an abutment on the housingextending into the way of the block and a spring in the way arranged toabut the block and the abutment for constantly yieldingly urging theblock toward the cam, a connecting means at the outer end of the blockand located upon the major axis of the block, anv elongated hook memberhaving a shank, an offset anchorage end, and a U- shaped turned endproviding a bolt extended toward the cam, the bolt being adjacent to thekeeper entry aperture for movement at least partly across the apertureunder the propelling influence of the spring, the offset anchorge end ofthe hook member being jointed to the axial connecting means of the blockfor unitary reciprocation of the block and the hook member, a pawlpivoted to the housing adjacent to the entry aperture for movementlaterally of the housing toward and from the aperture, an end nose onthe pawl subject to end abutment against the bolt for retaining the boltin a cooked position beyond the entry aperture, yielding means normallyurging the pawl toward the entry aperture, and a contact face on thepawl accessible through the entry aperture whereby a keeper may beextended through the aperture to trip the pawl and free the bolt forengagement with the keeper.

5. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of ashallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, amanual actuator located remote from the entry aperture, an elongatedslide block reciprocable longitudinally of the housing, said blockhaving an inner end contacting the actuator whereby manipulation of thelatter projects the block outwardly, means for constantly yieldinglyurging the block toward the actuator, a connecting means at the outerend of the block and located upon the major axis of the block, anelongated hook member having a shank, an offset anchorage end, and aU-shaped turned end providing a bolt extended toward the actuator, thebolt being adjacent to the keeper entry aperture for movement at leastpartly across the aperture under the propelling influence of theyielding means, the ofiset anchorage end of the hook member being joinedto the axial connecting means of the block for unitary reciprocation ofthe block and the hook member, a pawl shiftable relative to the housingadjacent to the entry aperture for movement laterally of the housingtoward and from the aperture, a nose on the pawl subject to end abutmentagainst the bolt end for retaining the bolt in a cooked position beyondthe entry aperture, yielding means normally urging the pawl toward theentry aperture, and a contact face on the pawl accessible through theentry aperture whereby a keeper may be extended through the aperture totrip the pawl and free the bolt for movement toward the aperture andinto engagement with the keeper.

6. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of ashallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, amanual actuator located remote from the entry aperture, an elongatedslide block reciprocable longitudinally of the housing, said blockhaving an inner end contacting the actuator whereby manipulation of thelatter projects the block outwardly, means for constantly yieldinglyurging the block toward the actuator, a connecting means at the outerend of the block and located upon the major axis of the block, anelongated hook member having a shank, an offset anchorage end, and aU-shaped turned end providing a bolt extended toward the actuator, thebolt being adjacent to the keeper entry aperture for movement at leastpartly across the aperture under the propelling influence of theyielding means, the offset anchorage end of the hook member being joinedto the axial connecting means of the block for unitary reciprocation ofthe block and the hook member, means including a shiftable stopaccessible through the keeper entry aperture, for normally abutting theterminal end of the bolt and maintaining the bolt in a retractedposition against the force of the yielding means, said shiftable stopbeing displaceable by a keeper projected through the aperture to freethe end of the bolt for projection toward the aperture, the shiftablestop being received in the U-shaped turn at the end of the hook memberwhen displaced, and yielding means for returning the shiftable stop tobolt-holding position upon retraction of the bolt by the actuator.

'7. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongatedhousing having a bottom Wall and side walls, one of which side walls isapertured for reception of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed sideblocks arranged for reciprocation lengthwise of the bottom wall andbetween the side walls of the housing, means yieldingly urging the slideblocks toward one another, and an actuator interposed between saidblocks to maintain a separated condition thereof, said actuator beingadapted upon rotation to project the blocks outwardly away from oneanother in opposition to the force of the yielding means, a

pair of hook members each including a shank, a turned end, and an offsetanchorage end, said hooks being reciprocable lengthwise of the housingwithout lateral displacement and located beyond the outer ends of theslide blocks, means connecting the offset anchorage end of each hookmember to an outer end of a slide block, upon the major axis of eachslide block, the turned ends of the hook members being directed towardeach other, adjacent to the entry apertures for the keepers, and inposition to move across said apertures under the propelling force of theyielding means acting upon the slide blocks, and displaceable meansnormally in obstructing but yielding relationship to the keepers,located at the entry apertures, and adapted each to abut endwise theturned end of ahook member, for maintaining a retracted condition of thehook member, until displaced and tripped by insertion of the keepersinto said apertures, said blocks and hook members and displaceable meansall being of a substantially common thickness slightly less than thedepth of a side wall of the housing measured interiorly thereof, and atapered face of limited extent on each hook member exposed for contactwith a keeper when the hook member is disposed to an extended lockingposition, whereby the keeper is adapted to partially displace theextended hook member to temporarily make way for entry of the keeperinto the housing aperture.

8. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housinghaving side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception ofa pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged forreciprocation lengthwise of and between the side walls of the housing,means yieldingly urging the slide blocks to movement in oppositedirections, and an actuator associated with said blocks to move thelatter in opposite directions in opposition to the force of the yieldingmeans, a pair of latch members each including an end portion to traversethe side wall apertures for engagement with the keepers, said latchmembers being connected one each with a slide block to be movabletherewith longitudinally of the housing without lateral displacement,and displaceable means normally in obstructing but yielding relationshipto the keepers, and located wholly within the housing to substantiallyspan the keeper apertures while aligned with and abutting endwise theend portion of each latch member, for maintaining a retracted conditionof the latch members until displaced and tripped by insertion of thekeepers into said apertures.

9. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongated housinghaving side walls, one of which side walls is apertured for reception ofa pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arranged forreciprocation lengthwise of and between the side walls of the housing,means yieldingly urging the slide blocks to movement in oppositedirections, and an actuator associated with said blocks to move thelatter in opposite directions in opposition to the force of the yieldingmeans, a pair of butt-ended latch members each having a short endportion to traverse the side wall apertures for engagement with thekeepers, said latch members being connected one each with a slide blockand movable therewith longitudinally of the housing without lateraldisplacement, a pair of pawls each pivoted to the housing adjacent to akeeper entry aperture for movement laterally of the housing toward andfrom the aperture, an end nose on each pawl subject to end abutmentagainst the butt end of a latch member and in substantial alignment withsuch latch member, to retain the latch members in a cocked positionbeyond the keeper entry apertures, yielding means normally urging thepawls toward the entry apertures, and a contact face on each pawlaccessible through the entry apertures whereby the keepers may beextended through the apertures to shift the pawls out of alignment withthe ends of the latch members and release the latter for engagement withthe keepers.

10. A look structure which comprises in combination, an elongatedhousing having side walls, one of which side walls is apertured forrecep tion of a pair of keepers, a pair of opposed slide blocks arrangedfor reciprocation lengthwise of and between the side walls of thehousing, means yieldingly urging the slide blocks to movement inopposite directions, and an actuator associated with said blocks to movethe latterin opposite directions in opposition to the force of theyielding means, a pair of butt-ended latch members each having a shortend portion to traverse the side wall apertures for engagement with thekeepers, said latch members being connected one each with a slide blockand movable therewith longitudinally of the housing without lateraldisplacement, a pair of pawls each pivoted to the housing adjacent to akeeper entry aperture for movement laterally of the housing toward andfrom the aperture, an end nose on each pawl subject to end abutmentagainst the butt end of a latch member and in substantial alignment withsuch latch member, to retain the latch members in a cooked positionbeyond the keeper entry apertures, yielding means normally urging thepawls toward the entry apertures and into substantial parallelism withthat housing side wall which carries the entry apertures, and a contactface on each pawl accessible through the entry apertures whereby thekeepers may be extended through the apertures to shift the pawls out ofalignment with the ends of the latch members and release the latter forengagement with the keepers.

11. In a lock structure of the class described, the combination of ashallow elongated housing having a keeper entry aperture therein, amanual actuator located remote from the entry aperture, an elongatedslide block reciprocable longitudinally of the housing, said blockhaving an inner end contacting the actuator whereby manipulation of thelatter projects the block outwardly, means for constantly yieldinglyurging the block toward the actuator, an elongated hook member movablewith the block and having a U-shaped turned end providing a boltextended toward the actuator, the bolt being adjacent to the keeperentry aperture for movement at least partly across the aperture underthe propelling influence of the yielding means, a pawl normally insubstantial alignment with the bolt and shiftable relative to thehousing adjacent to the entry aperture for movement laterally of thehousing toward and from the aperture, a nose on the pawl subject to endabutment against the bolt end for retaining the bolt in a cookedposition beyond the entry aperture, yielding means normally urging thepawl toward the entry aperture, and a contact face on the pawlaccessible through the entry aperture whereby a keeper may be extendedthrough the aperture to trip the pawl out of alignment with the bolt endand free the bolt for movement toward the aperture and into engagementwith the keeper.

CHARLES J. SCHELL.

